Right time and reason for selling/buying?

[mimikeni]

This is a matter of curiosity to me (since I'm in the market for a sport-tourer to keep my GS company).  I have been perusing the web and seen lots of reasons for selling (i.e. close call-now freaked about riding, moving up to a bigger bike, divorce, surgery, don't ride as much as I would like, etc.)  If someone sells their bike in the beginning of the riding season, is it because they couldn't get the gremlins worked out with winter wrenching or is just that the market is full of people ready to ride?  If someone is selling in the middle of the riding season, does it mean the bike isn't running right and they are fed up with trying to fix it?  If they are selling at the end of the riding season, does that suggest they are done with that bike and now want something different or that they wrecked it and just now got it put back together enough to dump it on an unsuspecting buyer?
Your thoughts?

[Worm]

I don't think you can generalize it that way. Everyone's situation is different at any given moment.

[Formori]

It might be any one of those things at various times of the year but keep in mind that people don't always expect to sell at a specific time, they just decide (or something happens) and now they've got to sell the bike, regardless of the time of year.

Some people even hold onto their bike (or whatever they're selling) to wait for a time when demand (and price) are higher to try and get more money back on what they're selling.

Normally if I'm looking at buying something like this, I go on a case-by-case basis. Not everyone is out there to screw you.

[jestercinti]

This is a matter of curiosity to me (since I'm in the market for a sport-tourer to keep my GS company).  I have been perusing the web and seen lots of reasons for selling (i.e. close call-now freaked about riding, moving up to a bigger bike, divorce, surgery, don't ride as much as I would like, etc.)  If someone sells their bike in the beginning of the riding season, is it because they couldn't get the gremlins worked out with winter wrenching or is just that the market is full of people ready to ride?  If someone is selling in the middle of the riding season, does it mean the bike isn't running right and they are fed up with trying to fix it?  If they are selling at the end of the riding season, does that suggest they are done with that bike and now want something different or that they wrecked it and just now got it put back together enough to dump it on an unsuspecting buyer?
Your thoughts?

Life changes fast.  Each person has their story.  For me, I've been on top of the world only to be at rock bottom 3 months later.  What matters most is that I am currently riding and couldn't be happier.

I've bought and sold many bikes in my 36 years of life on this planet.  Here's my story:

• 82 GS450: Sold in March 2011.  Bought an 09 GS500F.  Didn't need 2 bikes.  Wrote an epic story on CL, got full price in less than 24 hours.
• 03 Kawasaki Vulcan: Sold in July 2008.  Wife said, "I'm pregnant."  Needed $ for the new baby.  Settled on a lower-than-asking price.
• 00 Suzuki GSX-R750: Sold in September 2003. Inherited from a cosign-loan-gone-bad.  Never wanted it, but drove it like I stole it for 6,000 miles, and sold it for a lower-than-asking price.
• 97 Kawasaki Vulcan: Sold in May 2003.  Inherited the GSX-R750 (see above) from a cosign-loan-gone-bad.  Needed to liquidate to get out of debt.  Settled on a lower-than-asking price.
• 00 Suzuki GZ250: Sold 9/11/01.  Yes, 9/11.  It was my first bike, didn't need 2.  Settled on a lower-than-asking price.

--Jester

[ohgood]

This is a matter of curiosity to me (since I'm in the market for a sport-tourer to keep my GS company).  I have been perusing the web and seen lots of reasons for selling (i.e. close call-now freaked about riding, moving up to a bigger bike, divorce, surgery, don't ride as much as I would like, etc.)  If someone sells their bike in the beginning of the riding season, is it because they couldn't get the gremlins worked out with winter wrenching or is just that the market is full of people ready to ride?  If someone is selling in the middle of the riding season, does it mean the bike isn't running right and they are fed up with trying to fix it?  If they are selling at the end of the riding season, does that suggest they are done with that bike and now want something different or that they wrecked it and just now got it put back together enough to dump it on an unsuspecting buyer?
Your thoughts?

beginning of riding season = usually a sellers market
middle of non-riding season = usually a buyers market


ie, you get more for a bike in the spring than the dead of winter. normally.

as far as one seller fed up with fixing something at a different time of year i think you're wrong. most jap bikes require -nothing- for 50,000 miles at a time, so the reason listed is the real reason for the sale.

outside of the bike obviously leaking oil or having a piston hanging out, a lot can be revealed just talking to the owner.

[adidasguy]

So many reasons to sell. I've known of a lot around here.

* Scared
* Wrecked
* Tired of the rain
* Baby: grandmother said no bike or she won't move here to help with the baby (that's how I bought Junior)
* Got a bike I like better so don't need the GS (how I got Trey)
* Wife said only one dangerous hobby (chose snow boarding over the GS - how I git a wad load of parts and a frame)
* Riding style changed: needs either small bike for commuting. Or changes to cruiser for long distance.
* I have a piece of crap I need to unload for a ridiculous amount of money
* I can't fix it
* The title is all screwed up  and I'm fed up trying to straighten it out so here it is  - cheap - for a parts bike (yep - I got one that way - a 2006 with  7k miles for parts)
* I have too many bikes
* Not enough room any more for all my bikes
* Moved - no space for it
* Surgery so I'll be out of it for 6 months or more so might as well sell it  (true story, but I wasn't the buyer)
* I just want a different bike
* I just don't ride it much so sell it before it rusts away
* I just built one so I don't need 4 GS500's so sell one (yep - that's me  ) and gotta make room to build another one

.....and the lost goes on.

So many reasons to sell and each is different. You have to judge the situation, wheel & deal and decide if the reason is true. True or not, it is up to you if you want to buy. If a good deal and a clean title - great. For my parts bike, the DMV verified the story so I knew it wasn't stolen or a load of crap (owner game me voided title and all paperwork).

Sellers willing to give the VIN so you can check it out is always a plus.

Most are cash in hand before test ride.